PPDA and field tilt
Two context numbers often shown next to xG: one for how hard a team presses, one for how much of the game it plays in the opponent's half.
PPDA: passes per defensive action
PPDA = opponent's passes ÷ your defensive actions
Counted in the area where a team presses (usually the opponent's part of the pitch). A low PPDA means the opponent gets few passes before you win the ball back or stop the move: intense pressing.
Field tilt
A team's share of the play in the final third
Usually its share of final-third passes; some sources use touches instead, so values differ between sites. High field tilt means a team spends the match in the opponent's end.
The traps
- Territory is not quality. A team can dominate the ball high up the pitch and create little xG.
- PPDA depends on where a team plays. A side that already has the ball in the opponent's half has fewer chances to press there; the number mixes style and situation.
- Definitions vary. Compare within one source.
Questions
What is a good PPDA?
Lower means more pressing. Values are only comparable within one source, because the pressing zone and the actions counted vary.
Does high field tilt mean the better team?
No. It shows where the game was played, not how good the chances were.
Sources
Checked 2026-10-28. Methods change: every figure here is dated to its source.
xG explains football; it is not a betting tip. 18+ · Please gamble responsibly.